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What Is
Hospice?
Hospice is not a place, but a
way of caring for patients that encourages their fullest
participation in life until death occurs. Hospice care is
provided by physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and
members of the clergy and volunteers, working together as a
team. Hospice extends physical, emotional and spiritual support
to patients and their families. During the illness it also
provides bereavement support to family members after a patient's
death.
Hospice care is frequently
provided in the patient’s home, where team members assist family
and friends in the care of the patient. Hospice care is also
available in many hospitals and nursing homes. The goal of
hospice, where it is found, is to support the patient, family,
and friends so that everyone can live as fully and comfortably
as possible.
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Does
Insurance Cover Hospice Care?
Medicare covers hospice care.
More detail about the Medicare Hospice benefit is available from
the Network or your local hospice program.
Many private insurance
companies are now including hospice care as a benefit. It is
important for you to call your claims agent for specifics about
your policy. You might want to ask your claims agent to send you
a copy of any materials which outline your benefits. Sometimes
explaining your situation to the claims agent is helpful. A
hospice team member will help you understand your insurance
coverage.
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When Do I
Need Hospice?
Hospice care can begin when
curative treatment is no longer expected to be effective. All
hospice programs in Maryland have admission guidelines. Ask your
hospice to share these with you. Generally most hospices expect
that:
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The patient has a
medical diagnosis of an “end-stage disease”. This means
the attending physician has determined, with the
patient/family, that nothing more is planned to cure the
patient’s disease. |
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The patient has a
life expectancy that is measured in months. |
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The patient/family is
ready for comfort care and ready to cease aggressive
treatment aimed toward cure. |
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There is a primary
caregiver who is available to take care of the patient.
The primary caregiver may be an individual family
member, friend, or hired companion who accepts the
24-hour responsibility for the patient. This is
especially important as the patient begins to require
more care and supervision. |
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The patient has an
attending physician who is willing to certify the
patient’s diagnosis and prognosis and who is willing to
work with the hospice team. |
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The patient lives
within the geographic location served by the local
hospice program. |
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What Services Does Hospice Provide?
Hospice provides a
comprehensive support system using an interdisciplinary team of
health care professionals. All team members work closely with
the patient’s personal physician, who continues to direct the
medical care.The Hospice team members include the following:
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Medical Director:
Serves as consultant to the team as well as to the
patient’s personal physician |
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Nurses:
Provide coordination of all care provided to the
patient; are experts in the areas of pain control,
symptom management, emotional counseling, teaching and
support; arrange for and supervise additional help;
assist with obtaining appropriate supplies and
equipment. |
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Social Workers:
Provide emotional and psychological support for patients
and families as needed; explain insurance coverage,
explore financial assistance and assist with the use of
community resources. |
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Clergy:
Available to the patient and family as desired; contact
the patient/family’s clergy as needed. |
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Volunteers:
Provide companionship; do shopping and errands; provide
relief for the primary care giver(s). |
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Home
Health Aides:
Are good listeners; provide personal care to the
patients. |
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Therapists:
Occupational, speech, and physical therapies are
available to all as needed. |
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Bereavement Counselors:
Families and friends can receive bereavement services
through the hospice program months after the death of
the patient. This assures the family of support through
the major holidays and anniversaries during the
following year. |
A team member is on-call 24
hours a day, 7 days a week to answer question, discuss concerns
and visit when needed.
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What
Is The Role Of My Personal Physician?
Your personal physician
continues, as your primary doctor, to direct your medical care.
The hospice team works with your doctor to provide the medical
and supportive services you need. Communication between the
hospice team and your doctor is maintained on a regular basis.
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Can I
Change My Mind About Hospice?
YES. Hospice is a flexible,
patient-centered service for those who want it. Hospice
professionals recognize that a hospice program is not for
everyone and that people have a right to change their minds.
Patients and families can choose to participate in a hospice
program or not to continue at any time during the course of the
terminal illness. Should a patient/family already in a hospice
program decide that they no longer wish hospice services, they
should seek the support and assistance of members of the hospice
team in working out necessary medical and insurance changes.
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How Can I
Find A Hospice Program?
The Hospice Network of
Maryland can help you find a hospice program locally or anywhere
in the United States. For a directory of hospice services in the
State of Maryland, go to (Finding Hospice Care). Or call us at
(410) 729-4571.
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Questions To Ask
In considering hospice for
yourself or a loved one, it may be helpful to ask some or all of
the following questions. The answers may help you to better
understand your needs and your local hospice program and the
special services it can offer you.
Questions To
Ask Yourself:
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Do we need help
and support in caring for a family member with a
terminal illness? |
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How do we feel
about hospice? |
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How does our
doctor feel about hospice? |
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What are our
alternatives? |
Questions To
Ask Your Local Hospice Program
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Do we meet your
criteria for admission? |
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Do you have
someone who can explain our insurance coverage? |
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Is your program
Medicare certified? |
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Are we eligible
for the Hospice Medicare Benefit? |
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Do you provide a
written list of charges for services not covered by
insurance? |
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Will we be
expected to pay for services not covered by
insurance? |
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Do you have a
24-hour on-call service 7 days a week including
holidays? |
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How will you help
our family? |
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Will we have
input into the care plan? |
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What if there is
no primary care person? |
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What do you do to
manage pain? |
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What if the
patient needs to go to the hospital? |
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Can we leave the
hospice program if the patient decided to resume
aggressive treatment? |
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If we leave the
hospice program can we return at a later time? |
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Will you involve
our clergy? |
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Do you have a
chaplain if we need one? |
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What services do
volunteers provide? |
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Do you provide
respite care if we need it? |
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What if we don’t
want death to occur at home? |
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Do you provide
bereavement support? |
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